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Scotmid Co-operative Funeral Directors
Address: Six branches across Edinburgh at 88 Fountainbridge, EH3 9QA - 78/79 Angle Park Terrace, EH11 2JP - 1 Forrester Park Drive, EH12 9AY - 60 Portobello High Street, EH15 1DA - 143 Liberton Brae, EH16 6LD - 16 John Street, Penicuik, EH26 8AB
Phone: 88 Fountainbridge: 01312297789 - 78/79 Angle Park Terrace: 01313463140 - 1 Forrester Park Drive: 01313347308 - 60 Portobello High Street: 01316697401 - 143 Liberton Brae: 01316643855 - 16 John Street, Penicuik: 01968679474 Email: None Web: http://www.scotmidfunerals.co.uk
Funeral Director/s: There are eight funeral homes in the ScotMid Co-op stable. Six of the eight trade under this name, two others, Dundas Fyfe in Midlothian and Thomas Brown Broxburn, West Lothian are recent acquisitions. James Blackburn is Head of Funerals having joined the company three years ago after working for Dignity in London. James is a passionate believer in the values of co-operativism as a guarantee of community spirit and service, wedding the business to Edinburgh's social fabric.
Specific Gravity: If you want a formal, Scottish funeral they are always smart and never forget that the funeral is about the deceased and bereaved not the funeral director. They are happy to dress down. The funeral homes are organised into groups of three which then pool their hearses. They can source alternatives and the surcharge for a horse drawn hearse is on their price list.
What’s important? : 'We look after families in their time of need,' as James says. Whilst they fully expect to take care of all arrangements as required they are all too happy to incoporate the bereaved's specific requirements. They are well connected across all spheres, with specific long standing relationships with Islamic, Orthodox Judaism and Reformed Judaism faiths as well as the Christian faiths, humanist and civil celebrants.
What’s different? : James is passionate about the grieving process, and encourages the bereaved to view the body. While the bereaved can often be confused as to what the 'right' thing to do is, James is happy to spell out that it is allowed to hold their hand and that engagement helps. The memorial Christmas tree which they invite clients from the last two years to contribute to is a lovely touch.
Services: Prices on display at their funeral homes in an easy-to-read format with choice of coffin and then the total price with their professional service. Also offer the NAFD Simple Funeral Service on the same price list. Embalming is not assumed as standard but is left as a price option. And at £75 the service is subsidised. They have their own embalmer and James recommends it for both health and safety and presentation grounds. The speed of funeral arranging in Scotland's capital doesn't make it a huge issue however. There are 11 coffins typically available including the 'eco' cardboard, willow and woollen ones. In conservative Edinburgh these 'green' offerings form less than 5% of their total sales, and being hugely customer centred this is unlikely to change: 'I'm here to fulfil what they want to do, not push them into a coffin that's in the papers'. In their consultation area extra services provided by third parties are discreetly displayed.
Remarks: A really good, ethical, honest, decent funeral service in the best traditions of a co-operative. Extremely well run, and lovely people in the branches. Highly professional with a warm, human side. Very fairly priced. James is incredibly open and has a firm passion for the pastoral side, and this informs all aspects of the business.
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